Loose-leaf binder.



H. C. MILLER.

LOOSE LEAF BINDER.

APPLICATION FILED mAvzz. 191s.

ma wsh Patented Aug. 14, 1917;

3 SHEETSSHEET I.

H. C. MILLER.

LOOSE LEAF BINDER.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 22, 1916.

H. C. MILLER.

LOOSE LEAF BINDER.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 22; I916.

mamm

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

Patented Aug. 14, 1917.

G. MILLER, OF MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN.

LOOSE-LEAF BINDER.

essence,

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented na M, rem;

Application filed May 22, 1916. Serial No. 99,122.

To all whom it may concern.

Be it known that I, HENRY O. MILLER, a

citizen of the United States and resident of Milwaukee, in the county of Milwaukee and State of Wisconsin, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Loose-Leafv movable into one of the heads to provide for ad ustment of the post portions between the heads. 7

It is in general the object of the present invention to improve the structure and the readiness of operation of loose leaf binders of this type.

sides in the provision of a means for adjusting the capacity of the binder, which is operative independently of the adjustment afi'orded by the usual movement of the flexible posts intoone of the heads, in such manner that such additional adjusting means may be disposed within the other head to form substantially a magazine of connected extension post sections which may be projected outwardly from the head as needed to increase the, capacity of the binder, or may be retracted into the head to reduce the capacity, and which are interlockingly connected with the head by their disposltion therein, the

present invention having also as an object,

in common with most types of flexible post binders, the provision o a structure wherein no projection is formed on the binder head incidental to the adjustment of the posts.

Another object of the invention resides in the provision of a binder head and flexible posts movable into or out of the binder head by pulling or pushing the post ends outwardly of the head whereby a rapid movement of the flexible posts may be procured,

in contradistinction to various types of flexf ible .post structures wherein the posts are connected to a screw member in a manner necessitating rotation of the screw to movethe posts. This object of providing for rapid movement of the posts also mcludes the rovision of means whereby the posts may e locked in desired retracted positions.

It is another object in this connection to provide a means whereby the flexible posts maybe moved into the head either by a screw action, or by pressure on the posts independent of the screw action, and whereby the screw action serves as a means for lockin the post sections against withdrawal from t e head.

In a loose leaf binder provided with flexible posts, there is a tendency of the upper 1 head of the binder to tilt laterally when the posts are extended, and it is another object .of the present invention to provide a means associated with the body of leaves within the binder to eifectually prevent such tilting tendency.

Loose leaf binders of a more finished type structures, and inasmuch as it is necessary to gain access to one of the head members, in adjusting the binder capacity, the cover flap is fixedly secured to preferably the lower head member and detachably connected with the cover connected with the upper head member. The usual method of attachment is to slide the flap into a pocket formed in the upper cover and this arrangement procures a decided disadvantage in that frequent movements of the cover incidental to the normal use of the binder, tend to work particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a perspective view, of a loose leaf binder constructed in acc' rdance with the present invention.

Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view-taken transversely through the back portion of the include a cover flap for housing the head A more definite object of the invention rewith the upper head A at its end portions.

' is to hold the upper binder head against tiltbinder and showin more particularly the arrangement of the ack cover flap.

' Fig. 3 is a vertical sectlonal view taken longitudinally through the head structureof the binder 0n the line 3-3 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a horizontal sectional view taken through a lower binderhead on the line 4-4 of Fig. 3. v 4

Fig. 5 is a transverse. sectlonal view through the locking binder head, as indicated by the line 5-5 of Fig. 4. I t m Fig. 6 is a view similar to Fig. 4, but showing a modified means for procuring retraction of the flexible posts into the head.

Fig. 7 is a transverse sectional view through this modified head structure on the line 77 of Fig. 6.

Fig. 8 is a view showing another modified form of means for retracting theposts.

Fig. 9 is a detailed sectional viewthrough the-locking pawl arrangement of this structure, as indicated by the line 99 of Fig. 8.

Referring now more particularly to-tho. accompanying drawings, A and B designaterespectively upper and lower heads between which is clamped the body of leaves G by means of flexible post members D, connected and movable into the lower head B at its end portions. f

Pivoted to lugs 20 at the ends of the heads, are the upper and lower covers 21 and 22 respectively, the inner portions of these covers preferably comprising metallic plate portions. For properly shieldingthe head structure of the binder, a cover flap 23 is secured to the lower head B and is adapted to be disposed about the upper head and.

passed through a slot 24 in the inner portion of the upper cover whereby the free end portion of the flap may lie between the upper cover and the body of leaves. Thus the cover may be readily manipulated to permit access to the upper head A when desired, in contradistinction to the usual securement of the flap in a pocket in the upper cover. Also movements of the cover to open the binder in its normal use do not materially tend to disarrange the flap. p

The flexible posts D are passed through the usual key hole slots 25 in the end of the body of leaves, and between theseries of slots receivin diate series 0 similar slots 26 are provided the flexible posts, intermefor the reception of intermediate post members comprising each a series of screws connected sections 27 extending from a rigid connection with the lower binder head. These posts are not attached to the upper binder head, and the function of these posts ing movement due to the nature of the flexible posts D, when these posts are extended from the lowerhead for the purpose pawl of the lower of inserting or removing additional leaves. It is not essential for the posts 27 to extend the entire distance between the heads, to eflect this function in an eflicient manner and thus adding or removing sections from the said posts will accord in a general manner to the. adjustments of binder capacity procured in connection with the flexible posts. c

Each of-the flexible posts D comprises a series of pivotally connected link members 29 and an end member 30' which is adapted for threaded engagement by .a pintle 31 formed on one end of one of a pluralit of extension post members 32. Each of t ese extension post members comprises a pair 1 ti-ve section would be projected through an opening 33. v By providing hinged extension sections of this nature, it will be seen particularly by reference to Fig. 3 that a plurality of these sections may be secured to each flexible post,

and may be passed through an opening 33 with a respective section bent to have a portion extend through the opening, with the sections between this said sectionand the cap 36 lying within the head to thus form a ma azine permitting enlargement .of the capacity of the binder, as desired. To provide access to the interior of the head for the manipulation of these extension sections, the head comprises a body channel plate 37 in which is positioned the end closure blocks 38, which carry the aforementioned lugs 20 adapted to aline for the reception of a slidably mounted locking pin 41 which extends outwardly of one of the end blocks 38.

tacle case type.

By the foregoing arrangement a means is. provided for ad usting the capacity of the masses binder independently of the adjustment afforded by the retraction of the flexible posts into the lower head. In the present instance, therefore, it is to be appreciated that the movement of the flexible 0st in andout of the lower head is primari y for the purpose of affording finger room to facilitate the insertion and removal of leaves and'incidentally to provide a finer degree of adjustment and a clamping action incidental-to such fine degree of ad ustment. Although stance comprises a pair of opposed longitu-v dinal channel plates 42 in which are disposed the end blocks 43 and the flexible posts extend into this leasing thus formed through openings 44 in the inner face of its end wall and are directed together within the head. To facilitate movement of the posts into and out of the head, elbow shaped channel members 45 are secured in the head at these openings, and include portions 46 which extend through the outer portions of the openings, and coact with outwardly turned portions 47 of the material adjacent the openings to form sleeves receiving the posts. Thus the elbow affords a continuoussmooth surface at the bend of the posts. The end of each post within the head is secured to a laterally'turned ear 48 at one end of a rack bar 49 and the teeth of these rack bars are opposed and mesh with an idle pinion 50 disposed centrally in the head. Thus movement of one of the flexible posts into or out of the head insures corresponding movement of the other post with respect'to the head and thus a single lockin pawl arrangement associated with the en of one flexible post may sufiice to lock both ture 53 receiving the rod 51 whereby the posts.

Taking up nowthe preferred flexible post operating structure illustrated more particularly in Figs. 3- to 5, a cylindrical rod 51 is disposed longitudinally in the head, with its ends journally secured in the end blocks 43, one of the end blocks being provided with a key socket 52 into which projects a squared end of the rod. The upturned ear 48 of one of the rack bars is provided with an aperrack bar is guided, the end of the other rack bar is provided with an car 54 engaged and guidedby a channel strip 55 secured longitudinally to the adjacent wall portion of the head. The other end of this rack bar is gulded by a strip 56 secured at one end to a bolt 57 which ournals the pinion '50and secured at its other end in an opening 58 in the wall of the head. Thus the said-rack bar is securely held-for sliding movement in mesh with the pinion, and adjacent .its attachment to the post, a pawl 59 is pivoted to the rack bar and resiliently urged by a spring 60 to enga e with a series of ratchets 61 formed on the bar 51.

Thus a means is provided for locking the flexible posts against movement outwardly of the head, and this locking means may be released by turning the rod, by engagement of a suitable key member with its squared end in the socket, the rod being limited in such turning movements by astop pin 62 thereon. In this arrangement no positive means is provided for retracting the flexible posts in the head and they are moved into the head merely by pressure on the upper binder head.-

The structureillustrated inFigs. 6 and 7 provides a means for positively retracting the posts in the head and this structure includes a central bearing block 63 in the head through which is passed a bolt 64 serving to secure it in pipsition and also to provide a journal for t e pinion 50. Mounted in the head between this block and one of the 1 end blocks 43 is a guide bar 65 which is passed through the post engaging ear 48 of the adjacent rack bar 49 to properly guide the bar, the other end of the bar extending between the blocks 63 and the wall of the head and being thus guided. Disposed in the head between the block 63 and the other end block 43, and vjournaled in said block is a threaded shaft 66 which has a squared end extending into a key socket 67 in the end head. The rack bar 49 adjacentthis shaft is provided with a sleeve 68 threadedly mounted on the shaft and thus the bar is moved longitudinally in the head upon rotation of the shaft to either retract or advance both of the binder heads. I am aware that in some instances, and particularly in Patent No. 1,184,979, granted to me siderable amount of machining which is,

eliminated in the present instance inasmuch as the rack bars and pinion are stamped from sheet metal in large quantities, and in a manner rendering the present structure more economical and practical.

-Figs. 8 and 9 illustrate a still further gage with one of a series of ratchet teeth 76 formed in a respective rack bar 49. The inion 50 of this structure is mounted on a bolt 77 which also carried a plate 78 extending transversely in the head to guide the rack bar 49 adjacent the pinion. To-

more economically accomplish the structure described, the pinion 50 of this structure is olfset laterally from the center of the head, and the rack bar 49 provided with ratchet teeth 76 is widened and the other rack bar correspondingly narrowed whereby the said ratchet teeth may be formed by a series of transverse slots in the rack bar. Taking up now the operation of this structure it is seen that the flexible (posts may be moved inwardly into the hea inde endent of actuation of the threaded sha t and that the threaded shaft may be operated if desired to procure inward movement of the posts. Thus rapidity of manipulation is facilitated, as the posts may be moved manually into the head a certain distance, and the inward movement completed and a proper clamping action procured by subsequent actuation of the screw shaft. Movement of the posts outwardly of the head is normally prevented b the pawl 74 engaging in the teeth 76. owever, when the screw shaft is rotated to move the carriage block 72 into a position abutting the cam rib 71, the said rib will engage the end of the pawl which is projected outwardly of the block and trip the pawl to render it inoperative. It is to be appreciated that the movement of the carriage block away from the cam rib 71 would in most practical instances be slight, and thus a quite ready means for unlocking is provided,

The feature of a screw feed for a binder structure and a pawl lock releasable by a cam on the screw shaft is suggested in Patent No. 770,379, granted to me Sept. 20, 1904, and in Patent No. 1,043,955, granted to me November 12, 1912. In both of these structures, however, the screw feed and lock release arrangement is associated with rigid posts and a single binder head.

I claim: 4 1. A loose leaf binder including a binder head, a hollow second binder head, flexible posts having adjacent ends secured to the first head and a plurality of hingedly connected extension sections at the other end of each flexible post movable into the hollow head and adaptedto lie longitudinally therein, each of said sections being of greater length than the width of the hollow head whereby to interlockingly engage the walls of the hollow head to prevent retraction thereof.

2. A loose leaf binder including a pair of hollow binder heads, flexible connecting posts movableinto one of the heads and one or more extension post sections adapted for securement to each flexible post and compr1s1ng hingedlyboimected portions whereby certain of the extension sections may swing laterally to lie within the other head. {3. An extension binder post section comprising a pair of hingedly connected portions and means at each end of said section for securing ,it selectively to a post body and to another section.

4. In a loose leaf binder the combination with a pair of binder heads, a body of leaves between the heads, covers hinged to the heads and a'cover flap secured to one head and extended about the other head with its free portion lying between the respective cover and the body of leaves.

5. In a loose leaf binder the combination with a pair of binder heads, a body of leaves between the heads and covers hinged to said heads, and one of said covers being provided in its inner portion with a slot, of a cover flap secured to one of the heads and binder heads, a flexible member connecting the heads and movable into one of the heads, means carried by said head and engageable with the flexible members for retracting said flexible member relatively to the head and means for automatically releasing the operative engagement of the flexible member and the first named means upon reverse actuation of said retracting means.

8. A loose leaf binder including a pair of binder heads a plurality of flexible members connecting the heads and movable into one of the heads and a common operating means detachably connected with the flexible members for simultaneously moving said flexible members relatively to the head.

9. A loose leaf binder including a pair of binder heads, a flexible member connecting the heads and movable into one of the heads,

block on the feed shaft and means for detachably connecting the carriage block and the flexible member.

10. A loose leaf binder including a pair of binder heads, a flexible member connecting the heads and movable into one of the heads, a threaded feed shaft in the head, a carriage block on the feed shaft, a pawl pivoted to the carriage block, means for connecting the pawl and the flexible member and a member in the head adapted to rock the pawl upon movement of the carriage block to release said connection With the flexible member.

11. A loose leaf binder comprising a pair of binder heads, flexible posts connected With one binder head and movable into the other head, rack bars secured to the posts within the latter head, a pinion in the latter head meshing with the rack bars, a bar rotatably mounted in the head and a pawl and ratchet connection between one rack bar and the ro tatable bar, said connection being releasable upon rotation of said rotatable bar.

12. A loose leaf binder comprising a pair of binder heads, flexible posts connected with one binder head and movable into the other head, means connecting the flexible posts within the latter head for causing simultaneous movement of the posts with respect to the head, said means permitting free movement of the posts with respect to the head, a bar journaled in the head, a portion of said bar being threaded, and a carriage block on said threaded portion and connected with one of the flexible posts for moving it.

13. A loose leaf binder comprising a pair of binder heads, flexible posts connected with one binder head and movable'into the other head, rack bars secured to the posts within the latter head, a pinion on the head meshing with the bar, a bar j ournaled in the head, a portion of said bar being threaded, and a carriage block on said threaded portion and connected with one of the rack bars for moving it. a

let. A loose leaf binder comprising a pair of binder heads, flexible posts connected with one binder head and movable into the other head, rack bars secured to the posts within said other head, a pinion in the head meshing with the bars, a bar journaled in the head, a portion of said bar being threaded, a carriage block on said threaded portion, a series of ratchet teeth carried by one of the rack bars, a pawl carried by the carriage block for engagement with said ratchet teeth, and means for releasing. the pawl.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing I have hereunto set my hand at Milwaukee, in the county of Milwaukee and State of Wisconsin.

HENRY C. MILLER. 

